Without going outside, you may know the whole world. Without looking through the window, you may see the ways of heaven. The farther you go, the less you know.

-Lao tse, Tao Te Ching

Coming Events
Photo Gallery
Links

World T'ai Chi & Qigong Day in Utah, 2008!

Salt Lake City will celebrate its 9th Annual World T'ai Chi and Qigong Day in Utah, on Saturday, April 26th beginning at 9 AM MST. ALL Utah T'ai Chi and Qigong shools are invited, and encouraged to Contact us early regarding participation.

This is a FREE event to the public, and everyone, regardless of age or physical condition, is invited to try these ancient Chinese forms of exercise. Utahns are invited to join local practitioners on the University of Utah campus at the Marriot Library Plaza. This event is sponsored by Professor Bill Parkinson.

Schedule of Events

Time	Event
9:00 AM	Form workshops - beginning and repeated movements to be taught by Dragon Studios to members of the general public who have little or no T'ai Chi experience Pushing-Hands workshops - workshops and opportunities to push-hands.
9:20 AM	Greeting from Professor Parkinson and Sifu Carter
9:30 AM	Warm-ups led by Sifu Jerry Gardner
10:00 AM	Mass T'ai Chi presentation by all participating schools
11:00 AM	Individual school/practitioner demonstrations

About World T'ai Chi and Qigong Day

World T'ai Chi and Qigong Day was founded in 1998 by Bill Douglas, the author of the best selling "The Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi and Qigong." Losing both of his parents to stress related illnesses energized Douglas to help millions of others worldwide enjoy the health and stress-reduction benefits of T'ai Chi and Qigong. This eventually led him to found the annual global World T'ai Chi and Qigong Day event. The popularity of World T'ai Chi and Qigong Day has spread each year since its founding, and the observance now features events on six continents, in sixty countries, and all fifty of the United States.

"World T'ai Chi and Qigong Day is a loose, fun, flowing, and profoundly effective global celebration and media/educational event," Founder Bill Douglas states. "It was created by people worldwide who have experienced the joy and healing of T'ai Chi and Qigong health sciences and now, for love of humanity, want to share them."

With nearly 500 million practitioners around the globe, the T'ai Chi and Qigong arts are arguably the most popular forms of exercise in the world. T'ai Chi and Qigong are non-competitive, low-impact aerobic exercises coordinating deep breathing with slow movements.

The health benefits and calming effects of T'ai Chi and Qigong are well documented. Studies show that regular practice improves muscle tone and balance, increases flexibility and boosts the immune system. Mental benefits include increased concentration, decreased stress levels and improved mind/body awareness. The Journal of Psychosomatic Research reports, "T'ai Chi reduces stress responses, lowering the incidence of anxiety, depression, fatigue, and general mood disturbance" (Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 1989 Vol 33(2) 197-206).

The benefits of T'ai Chi and Qigong aren't reserved for healthy people, T'ai Chi and Qigong are ideal for the elderly, people recovering from illness or surgery, or those struggling with chronic conditions. Gentle movements are done at a slow pace and students can tailor the moves to their own physical capabilities. According to the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, "T'ai Chi is probably the lowest weight bearing exercise, and modified forms can be suitable even for arthritis sufferers" (American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, June 1991, 70 (3) p 136-141). T'ai Chi has been recommended as an adjunct therapy for chronic pain, arthritis, insomnia, asthma, high blood pressure, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and psychosomatic illness.

Along with the Salt Lake City observance, several simultaneous World T'ai Chi and Qigong Day events are happening across the state, including scheduled events in Provo and St. George. To find out more about events happening near you, visit the World T'ai Chi and Qigong Day website at www.worldtaichiday.org.